¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace^(A) and may be guaranteed^(B) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.^{(C) 17} As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[a](D) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life^(E) to the dead and calls^(F) into being things that were not.^(G)

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,^(H) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^{[b](I) 19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead^(J)—since he was about a hundred years old^(K)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.^{(L) 20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(M) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(N) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^{(O) 22} This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^{(P) 23} The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us,^(Q) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him^(R) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(S) 25} He was delivered over to death for our sins^(T) and was raised to life for our justification.^(U)

Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified^(V) through faith,^(W) we^[c] have peace^(X) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(Y) 2} through whom we have gained access^(Z) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.^(AA) And we^[d] boast in the hope^(AB) of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[e] also glory in our sufferings,^(AC) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;^{(AD) 4} perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope^(AE) does not put us to shame, because God’s love^(AF) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,^(AG) who has been given to us.

⁶ You see, at just the right time,^(AH) when we were still powerless,^(AI) Christ died for the ungodly.^{(AJ) 7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.^(AK)

¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(A)

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?^(A)